Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium facts for kids
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| Established | 1972 |
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| Location | 1601 E University Blvd Tucson, Arizona |
| Type | Science museum |
| Owner | University of Arizona |
The Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium is a really cool place in Tucson, Arizona. It's a science museum and a planetarium all in one! This exciting center is part of the University of Arizona. It was named after an American writer named Grace Flandrau.
Inside, the Eos Planetarium Theater has a huge dome. This dome is about 15.2 meters (50 feet) wide. It can seat 146 people for amazing shows about space. The science center also has many exhibits. These exhibits teach you about Earth and space sciences.
Did you know that a small space rock, called a minor planet, is named after this center? It's called 18368 Flandrau!
History of Flandrau
The Flandrau Science Center started with a special gift. This gift came from the family of the author Grace Flandrau. The leaders of the University of Arizona agreed to create the center in 1972. It first opened its doors to visitors in 1975. O. Richard Norton was the very first director.
The planetarium used to have an old machine for its shows. This machine was called a star projector. People even nicknamed it the "Hector Vector Star Projector." This projector showed stars and planets on the dome. Later, newer and better technology replaced the old star projector.
In 2017, the planetarium got a big makeover. It was updated with new equipment and reopened. It was also given a new name. It is now known as the "Eos Foundation Planetarium Theater."
See also
- List of planetariums
